ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 16, 2022

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Press Conference

A. DAVIDOVICH FOKINA/G. Dimitrov

6-4, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations for your first ATP Tour final, and even more, a Masters. How would you describe the feeling that you have? Is it satisfaction, anxiety, appetite? Name it.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: I think it cannot describe. It's like all of them in one. Then, you know, just I'm so happy to what I did today, the battle mentally, what I had today against Grigor. He was playing very good in the third set.

You know, when I was 2-0 down and he had breakpoints too, I push myself to the limit and, you know, after that I did that, that serve I won, I pushed myself and believing in me more and more. You know, I thought that if I was playing every point in every game, I think I had chances, you know, and I make it.

I'm so happy for that.

Q. Could you talk a little about how you manage, along with the frustration you get probably during the end of the second set when you served for the game, for the match, how you managed that.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, you know, from the beginning of this tournament I was mentally focused to play every point. I had with Djoko the same thing. I was winning set and 4-2 and he break me.

Then, you know, after that match, I was like, Okay, you don't have to talk about things that cannot focus on you. Then when he won me today the second set, I was, like, Okay, go to the bathroom and reset your mind. We are tired because it's a tough battle.

And I was like tired and tired and he was playing very good. Me not so good in the beginning of the third set. But I managed to run every ball, to put the ball in. You know, I just did it and I'm glad that I pushed myself to that.

Q. You said yesterday that you were working with the mental aspect on your game. Your coach talk about that, and he told us that you do a real big work on that between December and right now. Could you just explain in what ways you work on it?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, since the preseason in December we worked very hard to have moment like this and to manage. You know, from the beginning of this season I had a lot of matches that could be that I won that match but finally I lose them.

You know, just keep to continue to keep believing in me, to keep pushing. Doesn't matter the results. Doesn't matter if I getting higher or lower in the ranking. You know, just to enjoying every moment and to play every ball and just to focus on my game and just like flow my game. That's it.

Q. In case you play Stefanos tomorrow, and we see that there is a good chance for that, your previous two matches were probably very emotional for you. You had to retire here in Monte-Carlo. Then you lost in three sets in Rotterdam. Emotionally how would you prepare for such a match?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Against Tsitsipas, you mean?

Q. Against Tsitsipas.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, yeah, like you said, in Monte-Carlo maybe was not my time to won that match. In Rotterdam was so tight. I had my chances to win that match.

You know, I think after this week I'm really prepared to have that battle against him or against Zverev, doesn't matter who, because I think my team and me, like we own it to have that battle because will be, for sure, be so fun and we will enjoy every moment. Doesn't matter who win or lose tomorrow, just enjoying to keep pushing myself to the end.